Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It HelpsPeppermint for NauseaNatural Nausea SolutionsWhen It Doesn’t Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Helps
Peppermint for Nausea
Natural Nausea Solutions
When It Doesn’t Help
Peppermint(Mentha piperita),with its refreshing aroma and soothing properties, has long been hailed as a natural remedy to relievenauseaand the discomfort of queasy stomachs.Whether you havemotion sicknesswhile traveling,morning sicknessduring pregnancy, side effects fromchemotherapy, orindigestion, peppermint is a popular natural remedy to offer relief.
This article explores the various forms of peppermint, including loose leaf, oil, and extract, and how each may help with nausea.
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How Peppermint Helps With Nausea
Peppermint’s active compounds, including menthol and menthone, play a role in its antinausea properties.These natural chemicals are responsible for the herb’s distinctive aroma and taste, but they also play a role in easing digestive discomfort and relieving nausea, which can be attributed to several key factors.
Top 18 Ways to Get Rid of Nausea
Muscle Relaxation
Peppermint’s active compounds (menthol and menthone) possess muscle-relaxing properties. These compounds help soothe the digestive muscles to reduce feelings of nausea.Research shows that smelling peppermint oil (aromatherapy) significantly reduces the frequency and severity of nausea in people undergoingchemotherapy.
Calming Effect on Nerves
The refreshing scent of peppermint has calming effects on thenervous system, helping promote relaxation and ease nausea.Stress and anxiety can worsen nausea, making it challenging to find relief.
Research shows that during pregnancy, the aroma of peppermint effectively reduces nausea. The refreshing scent of peppermint has calming effects on the nervous system, helping promote relaxation and ease nausea.
Aids Digestion
Peppermint’s ability to relax the gastrointestinal muscles and stimulate bile flow improves digestion, reducing the likelihood of nausea andindigestionafter meals. Drinkingpeppermint teaor enjoying an after-dinner mint after eating may help prevent nausea.
Ways to Use Peppermint for Nausea
Whether you prefer to sip on a comforting cup of peppermint tea or breathe in the benefits of peppermint oil, there are several ways to incorporate peppermint into your routine for nausea relief:
Dilute Peppermint Oil Before Topical UseWhen using peppermint essential oil topically, remember to dilute it with a carrier oil (e.g., coconut or olive oil) before applying it to the skin. Peppermint oil is highly concentrated and can lead to skin irritation or allergic reactions if used directly on the skin. Always perform a patch test on a small area of skin to check for adverse reactions.
Dilute Peppermint Oil Before Topical Use
When using peppermint essential oil topically, remember to dilute it with a carrier oil (e.g., coconut or olive oil) before applying it to the skin. Peppermint oil is highly concentrated and can lead to skin irritation or allergic reactions if used directly on the skin. Always perform a patch test on a small area of skin to check for adverse reactions.
Natural Nausea Solutions Besides Peppermint
While peppermint is an excellent natural remedy for nausea, several other effective solutions may provide relief, such as:
Finding the best solution for your nausea may take some trial and error. While natural options are generally safe, always talk with a healthcare provider before using herbal remedies, especially if you are pregnant or taking prescription medications.
When Peppermint Does Not Help With Nausea
Peppermint is known for its effectiveness in relieving nausea, but sometimes it doesn’t offer the relief you need. While peppermint is generally safe and well-tolerated, some people may be sensitive to it and experience mild side effects, such asheartburnor indigestion, which can worsen nausea.
Over-the-counter medications, such asPepto Bismol(bismuth subsalicylate) or Dramamine (dimenhydrinate), may temporarily relieve nausea.
Consider seeing a healthcare provider if you have persistent nausea despite using peppermint or other natural remedies. It is essential to see a healthcare provider if:
Summary
Peppermint may help reduce nausea thanks to its muscle-relaxing properties, calming effect on the nerves, and ability to improve digestion. This popular herbal remedy may help relieve or prevent nausea during pregnancy, when traveling (due to motion sickness), or after eating. Peppermint can be consumed as tea, inhaled as aromatherapy, or applied directly to the skin (diluted with a carrier oil) to help relieve nausea and promote relaxation.
Talk to a healthcare provider before trying peppermint for nausea or if your nausea persists or becomes more severe. They may recommend alternative solutions to help manage nausea, depending on the cause.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Peppermint oil.Chumpitazi BP, Kearns GL, Shulman RJ.Review article: The physiological effects and safety of peppermint oil and its efficacy in irritable bowel syndrome and other functional disorders.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2018;47(6):738-752. doi:10.1111/apt.14519Efe Ertürk N, Taşcı S.The effects of peppermint oil on nausea, vomiting and retching in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: An open label quasi-randomized controlled pilot study.Complement Ther Med. 2021;56:102587. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102587Lin S, Wang Y, Wu K, et al. Study on the Effect ofMentha × piperitaL.Essential oil on electroencephalography upon stimulation with different visual effects.Molecules. 2022;27(13):4059. doi:10.3390/molecules27134059Amzajerdi A, Keshavarz M, Montazeri A, Bekhradi R.Effect of mint aroma on nausea, vomiting and anxiety in pregnant women.J Family Med Prim Care. 2019;8(8):2597-2601. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_480_19Tafrihi M, Imran M, Tufail T, et al.The wonderful activities of the genusMentha: Not only antioxidant properties.Molecules. 2021;26(4):1118. doi:10.3390/molecules26041118Hines S, Steels E, Chang A, Gibbons K.Aromatherapy for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;3(3):CD007598. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007598.pub3Darvall JN, Handscombe M, Leslie K.Chewing gum for the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting: A pilot randomized controlled trial.Br J Anaesth. 2017;118(1):83-89. doi:10.1093/bja/aew375Health and Food Supplements Information Service.Peppermint.National Cancer Institute.Aromatherapy with essential oils (PDQ) - patient version.Hu Y, Amoah AN, Zhang H, et al.Effect of ginger in the treatment of nausea and vomiting compared with vitamin B6 and placebo during pregnancy: a meta-analysis.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2022;35(1):187-196. doi:10.1080/14767058.2020.1712714Safajou F, Soltani N, Taghizadeh M, Amouzeshi Z, Sandrous M.The effect of combined inhalation aromatherapy with lemon and peppermint on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial.Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2020;25(5):401-406. doi:10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_11_19Mohd Nafiah NA, Chieng WK, Zainuddin AA, et al.Effect of ccupressure at P6 on nausea and vomiting in women with hyperemesis gravidarum: A randomized controlled trial.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(17):10886. doi:10.3390/ijerph191710886MedlinePlus.When you have nausea and vomiting.American Academy of Family Physicians.Antiemetic medicines: OTC relief for nausea and vomiting.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Peppermint oil.Chumpitazi BP, Kearns GL, Shulman RJ.Review article: The physiological effects and safety of peppermint oil and its efficacy in irritable bowel syndrome and other functional disorders.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2018;47(6):738-752. doi:10.1111/apt.14519Efe Ertürk N, Taşcı S.The effects of peppermint oil on nausea, vomiting and retching in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: An open label quasi-randomized controlled pilot study.Complement Ther Med. 2021;56:102587. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102587Lin S, Wang Y, Wu K, et al. Study on the Effect ofMentha × piperitaL.Essential oil on electroencephalography upon stimulation with different visual effects.Molecules. 2022;27(13):4059. doi:10.3390/molecules27134059Amzajerdi A, Keshavarz M, Montazeri A, Bekhradi R.Effect of mint aroma on nausea, vomiting and anxiety in pregnant women.J Family Med Prim Care. 2019;8(8):2597-2601. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_480_19Tafrihi M, Imran M, Tufail T, et al.The wonderful activities of the genusMentha: Not only antioxidant properties.Molecules. 2021;26(4):1118. doi:10.3390/molecules26041118Hines S, Steels E, Chang A, Gibbons K.Aromatherapy for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;3(3):CD007598. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007598.pub3Darvall JN, Handscombe M, Leslie K.Chewing gum for the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting: A pilot randomized controlled trial.Br J Anaesth. 2017;118(1):83-89. doi:10.1093/bja/aew375Health and Food Supplements Information Service.Peppermint.National Cancer Institute.Aromatherapy with essential oils (PDQ) - patient version.Hu Y, Amoah AN, Zhang H, et al.Effect of ginger in the treatment of nausea and vomiting compared with vitamin B6 and placebo during pregnancy: a meta-analysis.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2022;35(1):187-196. doi:10.1080/14767058.2020.1712714Safajou F, Soltani N, Taghizadeh M, Amouzeshi Z, Sandrous M.The effect of combined inhalation aromatherapy with lemon and peppermint on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial.Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2020;25(5):401-406. doi:10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_11_19Mohd Nafiah NA, Chieng WK, Zainuddin AA, et al.Effect of ccupressure at P6 on nausea and vomiting in women with hyperemesis gravidarum: A randomized controlled trial.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(17):10886. doi:10.3390/ijerph191710886MedlinePlus.When you have nausea and vomiting.American Academy of Family Physicians.Antiemetic medicines: OTC relief for nausea and vomiting.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Peppermint oil.Chumpitazi BP, Kearns GL, Shulman RJ.Review article: The physiological effects and safety of peppermint oil and its efficacy in irritable bowel syndrome and other functional disorders.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2018;47(6):738-752. doi:10.1111/apt.14519Efe Ertürk N, Taşcı S.The effects of peppermint oil on nausea, vomiting and retching in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: An open label quasi-randomized controlled pilot study.Complement Ther Med. 2021;56:102587. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102587Lin S, Wang Y, Wu K, et al. Study on the Effect ofMentha × piperitaL.Essential oil on electroencephalography upon stimulation with different visual effects.Molecules. 2022;27(13):4059. doi:10.3390/molecules27134059Amzajerdi A, Keshavarz M, Montazeri A, Bekhradi R.Effect of mint aroma on nausea, vomiting and anxiety in pregnant women.J Family Med Prim Care. 2019;8(8):2597-2601. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_480_19Tafrihi M, Imran M, Tufail T, et al.The wonderful activities of the genusMentha: Not only antioxidant properties.Molecules. 2021;26(4):1118. doi:10.3390/molecules26041118Hines S, Steels E, Chang A, Gibbons K.Aromatherapy for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;3(3):CD007598. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007598.pub3Darvall JN, Handscombe M, Leslie K.Chewing gum for the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting: A pilot randomized controlled trial.Br J Anaesth. 2017;118(1):83-89. doi:10.1093/bja/aew375Health and Food Supplements Information Service.Peppermint.National Cancer Institute.Aromatherapy with essential oils (PDQ) - patient version.Hu Y, Amoah AN, Zhang H, et al.Effect of ginger in the treatment of nausea and vomiting compared with vitamin B6 and placebo during pregnancy: a meta-analysis.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2022;35(1):187-196. doi:10.1080/14767058.2020.1712714Safajou F, Soltani N, Taghizadeh M, Amouzeshi Z, Sandrous M.The effect of combined inhalation aromatherapy with lemon and peppermint on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial.Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2020;25(5):401-406. doi:10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_11_19Mohd Nafiah NA, Chieng WK, Zainuddin AA, et al.Effect of ccupressure at P6 on nausea and vomiting in women with hyperemesis gravidarum: A randomized controlled trial.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(17):10886. doi:10.3390/ijerph191710886MedlinePlus.When you have nausea and vomiting.American Academy of Family Physicians.Antiemetic medicines: OTC relief for nausea and vomiting.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Peppermint oil.
Chumpitazi BP, Kearns GL, Shulman RJ.Review article: The physiological effects and safety of peppermint oil and its efficacy in irritable bowel syndrome and other functional disorders.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2018;47(6):738-752. doi:10.1111/apt.14519
Efe Ertürk N, Taşcı S.The effects of peppermint oil on nausea, vomiting and retching in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: An open label quasi-randomized controlled pilot study.Complement Ther Med. 2021;56:102587. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102587
Lin S, Wang Y, Wu K, et al. Study on the Effect ofMentha × piperitaL.Essential oil on electroencephalography upon stimulation with different visual effects.Molecules. 2022;27(13):4059. doi:10.3390/molecules27134059
Amzajerdi A, Keshavarz M, Montazeri A, Bekhradi R.Effect of mint aroma on nausea, vomiting and anxiety in pregnant women.J Family Med Prim Care. 2019;8(8):2597-2601. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_480_19
Tafrihi M, Imran M, Tufail T, et al.The wonderful activities of the genusMentha: Not only antioxidant properties.Molecules. 2021;26(4):1118. doi:10.3390/molecules26041118
Hines S, Steels E, Chang A, Gibbons K.Aromatherapy for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;3(3):CD007598. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007598.pub3
Darvall JN, Handscombe M, Leslie K.Chewing gum for the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting: A pilot randomized controlled trial.Br J Anaesth. 2017;118(1):83-89. doi:10.1093/bja/aew375
Health and Food Supplements Information Service.Peppermint.
National Cancer Institute.Aromatherapy with essential oils (PDQ) - patient version.
Hu Y, Amoah AN, Zhang H, et al.Effect of ginger in the treatment of nausea and vomiting compared with vitamin B6 and placebo during pregnancy: a meta-analysis.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2022;35(1):187-196. doi:10.1080/14767058.2020.1712714
Safajou F, Soltani N, Taghizadeh M, Amouzeshi Z, Sandrous M.The effect of combined inhalation aromatherapy with lemon and peppermint on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial.Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2020;25(5):401-406. doi:10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_11_19
Mohd Nafiah NA, Chieng WK, Zainuddin AA, et al.Effect of ccupressure at P6 on nausea and vomiting in women with hyperemesis gravidarum: A randomized controlled trial.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(17):10886. doi:10.3390/ijerph191710886
MedlinePlus.When you have nausea and vomiting.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Antiemetic medicines: OTC relief for nausea and vomiting.
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